04/03/2021 – 9:32 AM (GMT-4)
Alexander Delgado, member of People Zone, explained during the meeting with the mayor of Miami, Rosa María Payá and other musicians from Patria y Vida and specified the reasons why they were associated with the Cuban government for a time from the island they have come to ask them to return.
In an extensive explanation during the program Cafecito Talk, moderated by Enrique Santos, Alexander also elaborated on the circumstances of his public greeting to Miguel Díaz-Canel at Laura Pausini’s concert in Havana, and in other details about her relationship with the Cuban authorities.
The singer explains that they were censored on the island in the early days when they were not yet famous, but points out that they once became popular with To dance the Cuban government tried to turn them over and keep them in that position at all costs.
“The government was very aware of the scope they had and they tried to keep us close”Alexander emphasized.
“We never noticed this because we preferred to go to Cuba to see our families and have the opportunity to sing to the people, which we always did”He added, specifying that it was he who first realized what was happening.
Alexander cites as one of the highlights of that recognition of the situation when they took Díaz-Canel to the Pausini concert and sent him a note telling him to say hello.
“The only way we had to reach the public was by legal means, so if you didn’t have them (the government) you wouldn’t be able to host an event of that magnitude,” he said, referring to the Italian singer’s concert. and benefited from complaining about various circumstances and obstacles surrounding that presentation.
“We had a meeting with the Minister of Culture, the man tells us that he does not know Laura Pausini. It was crazy, ”he said to sum up the experience.
The musician says that while the government already knew that they almost always lived in the United States, on several occasions the government tried to get them to return to the island.
Alexander also referred to problems importing a car he bought in the US, saying that after paying to enter the country, he had even been without a license plate for a year.
Delgado said that even after they publicly opposed the Cuban government, something that happened around September last year, they even proposed returning to the country that nothing would happen.
“First they started messaging me ‘hey, you can come in’, but I know it’s a lie”the musician said, referring to a call his mother got at the end of the year from the Ministry of Culture saying, “Hey, they say the boys are coming at the end of the year,” something that wasn’t right.
“When I come in, you can ‘take me out’ because I’m in your territory,” said Alexander, indicating that they are already in the position they want. “Our position has already been clearly defined and they already know they can count on us for anything”He concluded with reference to his current permanent residence in the United States and his political position.
About participating in Homeland and Life Randy MalcomHe explained that the proposal initially made them nervous because it was their first song with those characteristics, but then they concluded it was necessary.
Although describing himself as ‘politically ignorant’, Randy Malcom added: “We have a powerful weapon that is our voice and it is our music”, and so they decided to participate.
“We’re going to do it our way, we’re going to tell the truth through music and through what has given us everything, namely art and culture,” he said, concluding that “when things are said from the heart, the most powerful weapon ”.
The duo Gente de Zona has been the subject of various attacks by the official press after the premiere of Patria y Vida, took place on February 16.
In conversation with Primer Impacto (Univision) during the celebration of the Lo Nuestro prices, the musicians they sent a message to the island government “Until Cuba is free, we will not stop.”
“Right now all of the leaders of Cuba have come out to attack us, to say that we are funded, all with a rather old and completely wrong concert, and we want to make it clear that we will continue to defend our people, we continue to promote this song P.atria and V.East- and until Cuba is free, we will stop ”, Alexander said at the time.
After the attacks and threats from the authorities over the past two weeks, Alexander Delgado came to hold the government responsible for your family’s safety in Cuba.